I was hoping to hit the 3K mark back home at Eglin, but it was fitting it happened at Hill. Exactly six years earlier while stationed at Hill, I'd blown a disc out in my lower back (a not so uncommon injury for Viper Drivers), and was told by several doctors that I'd never fly again.

Lt.Col. 'Boomer' Shaneyfelt hits 3,000 Viper hours. He is the current Commander of the 85th Test & Evaluation Squadron and hit this mark while deployed to Hill AFB during a NORAD/NORTHCOM fighter integration evaluation. [USAF photo]

Lt. Col. Sam Shaneyfelt, 85th Test and Evaluation commander, climbs out of his F-16 after he reached the 3,000 hour mark in the skies over Hill AFB on April 24th, 2008. He becomes only the 139th Air Force pilot to reach 3,000 hours in an F-16. [Photo by Alex R. Lloyd]

Col. Thomas Berghoff, 53d TMG commander, is congratulated by Capt. Aaron Drenth, 28th TES on June 4th, 2008 after reaching 3,000 flight hours in an F-16 Fighting Falcon. He was greeted on the Eglin flightline by friends, family and squadron commanders to celebrate the milestone. Less than 150 Air Force pilots have reached the 3,000 hour mark in an F-16. [USAF photo by SSgt. Samuel King Jr.]

Col. Thomas Berghoff, 53d TMG commander, arrives back to the hangar at Eglin AFB on June 4th, 2008 after reaching 3,000 flight hours in F-16C block 50 #98-0005. He was greeted by friends, family and squadron commanders to celebrate the milestone. Less than 150 Air Force pilots have reached the 3,000 hour mark in an F-16. [USAF photo by SSgt. Samuel King Jr.]

Majors Johnny Adkisson and Doug Dean recently added their names to a very select group of pilots who have flown 3,000 hours in the F-16 Falcon. Both pilots reached this milestone together during a recent training flight from Kingsley Field. Photo taken March 15, 1996. [USAF photo by MSgt Stine]

Cols. David Romuald, Michael Fantini and John Dolan pose in front of an F-16 at Balad AB after they each completed their 3,000th flying hour in an F-16 on December 2nd, 2008. As tradition would dictate, they were hosed down with water from fire department crash trucks after leaving their cockpits. Approximately 150 F-16 F-16 pilots have surpassed the 3,000 hour mark. Dolan is the vice commander of the 332nd AEW, Fantini is the commander of the 332nd EOG and Romauld is the 332nd EOG deputy commander. [USAF photo by A1C. Jason Epley]

Majors Johnny Adkisson and Doug Dean recently added their names to a very select group of pilots who have flown 3,000 hours in the F-16 Falcon. Both pilots reached this milestone together during a recent training flight from Kingsley Field. Photo taken March 15, 1996. [USAF photo by MSgt Stine]

Hey! I know those guys! Smooch and Hammer both signed my goin'-away picture when I left in '90. Before he became Hammer, Doug's callsign was "WeeBee", so that whenever he was cleared for anything, he'd comeback, "WeeBee cleared for takeoff", or "WeeBee on the go".

I think Smooch went on to become the Wing King before they traded in the Viper for the Eagle.

Slightly but related: Has anyone gotten a shot of Brillo's 5K patch yet?